Health and Beauty
How To Get A
French Manicure
STEP 1
It's essential to prepare your hands and nails before applying nail
polish. First, exfoliate your hands by massaging them using a small
amount of body scrub. Rinse with water and dry thoroughly. One of the
main causes of chapped hands is not drying them properly after washing.
STEP 2
File your nails. If they are brittle or tend to split, keep them flat
across the top with smooth, rounded edges. When filing, move in one
direction, from outer corner to centre-sawing movements can damage the
nail plate. Choose a nail file with a fine surface that glides over the
nail.
STEP 3
Coat hands in a layer of sweet almond oil, to norish and soften, then
wrap in a warm towel and relax for 15 minutes. Unwrap, and gently push
back cuticles using a rubber hoof stick (available from most chemists).
Never use cuticle clippers, as they can nick the skin. Rinse hands with
warm water and dry thoroughly to remove any oil residue.
STEP 4
Apply one coat of base coat over your entire nail and allow a couple of
minutes to dry. This will help strengthen the nail. Some products also
level fine ridges and imperfections, leaving a smooth surface to apply
polish. There's a wide range of base coats to choose from.
STEP 5
For a square look, paint a straight line across the tips; for a rounded
appearance, follow the curve of the nail; and to get a pointed style,
paint in from each side to the centre. Some manicure kits include sticky
strips to use as a guide. when applying, lay your hand on a flat surface
and keep the ball of your painting hand steady and keep the ball of your
painting hand steady by resting it on the same surface. Leave to dry.
STEP 6
Finally, apply a coat of translucent shell-pink polish over the entire
nail to seal the whitened tip and complete the look. Allow 10 minutes
for it to dry. For extra shine and protection, apply a clear, glossy top
coat.
French manicure
Back To Hand
Care Index